Feed water regulator



y. v. vEENscHOTEN 2,334,672

FEED WATER REGULATOR original Filed Feb. s, 19:57 3 sheets-sheer 1 March Q3, i943.

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March 23, 1943. v. v. VEENSCH'OTEN FEED WATER REGULATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 3, 1937 n Invenmr: V1 n March 23,/ 1943.

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FEED WATER REGULATOE original Filed Feb. 3,'1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inven'ro'r': Vince'n'V eenschofe.

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 FEED WATER REGULATOR Vincent V. Veenschoten, Erie, Pa., assignor to Northern Equipment Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application February 3, 1937, Serial No. 123,808. Divided and this application August 4, 1939, Serial No. 288,337

(Cl. 122-45Ll) 4 claims.

This invention relates to fluid pressure apparatus for operating valves or the like, and more particularly to apparatus of this type wherein a primary device connected to a source of fluid pressure is adapted to have the fluid pressure therein controlled in accordance with the position of a movable element, and the uid pressureof the primary device is transmitted to a secondary device to position a second movable element, such as a valve, in correspondence with the position of the first movable element. v

`A primary object of the invention is to provide uid pressure apparatus wherein fluid pressure in a primary device is controlled by a rst movable element, and said uid pressure is transmitted to a secondary device at a remote point to'actuate a second movable element in accordance with the position of the first movable element.

` A further object of the invention is to provide improved fluid pressure means for controlling the flow of feed water to a boiler. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple device for controlling the flow of feed water to a boiler in accordance with water level variations inthe boiler, and wherein the feed water valve is continuously and substantially instantaneously moved through a fluid transmission system. n

-A particular object of the invention is to apply the transmitter in the operation of boiler feed water regulators, so that the Water needs of the boiler will be more effectively cared for. A further object is to provide means for transmitting the motion long distances with extremely simply apparatus, with little friction loss or wear of apparatus. yA further object is to transform fluid pressure into mechanical movement and at the same time deliver the movement long distances.

For convenience herein I have referred to the apparatus which I provide for these purposes as a transimotor, and refer to the motion delivering apparatus as the transmitter and to the motion receiving apparatus as the receiver. This application is a divisional application of my copending patent application Serial No. 123,808, filed Feb. 3, 1937.

, Of the drawings Fig. 1 is a central sectional elevation of a transmitter and a receiver which embodies the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus applied to a steam boiler for the purpose of controlling the flow of water to the boiler; Fig. 3 is a'view. of

the apparatus applied to the control of a pump governor.

YReferring to Fig. 1, the transmitter A of the transimotor comprises a casing I, having an inner chamber 2, and a casing 3 having an inner chamber 4. The chambers are separated byfa diaphragm 5. Within the chamber 2 is slidably mounted a tubular member 6 which carries a valve seat 1. Motion is applied to vthe transmitte'r by any means suitable for moving the member 6 in the casing. In this instance motion may be applied by means of a lever 8 pivotally connected to a tube 9 which is fixed to the member 6. f

In operation fluid under pressure is passed to the transmitter by any 'suitable means, such as a vflexible tube`IIl, which is connected to the outer end of the tube 9. When the lever 8 is operated to elevate the member 6, the valve seat 1 is moved away from its coacting valve' II. Movement of the valve is prevented by a stem I I xed to the valve, and which normally presses against the tubular member I2 which is xed with reference to the diaphragm 5. Upward movement of the diaphragm is opposed by the spring I3. l

VWhen the seat 'I is thus forced away from the coacting valve II', the pressure fluid is free to pass into the chamber 2 through the valve port, and from thence to pass through the tube- I4 into the receiver B. Thel receiver comprises a casing I5 having a chamber I6 therein, and a casing I1 having a chamber I8 therein. These two chambers are separated by a diaphragm I9. When the fluid pressure becomes effective in the chamber I6, which communicates with the pipe I4, the diaphragm is forced downwardly against the opposing spring 20. Fixed to the diaphragm is a rod 2I, which is thus operated by the uid pressure. Any desired apparatus may be associated with the rod 2I for actuation, such as the lever.22. In order to suitably control the motionv which is thus transmitted, 'Ivprovide the valve 23 coacting with the valve seat or port 24. When the pressure in the chamber 2 builds up suiiiwill be transmitted to the lever 22. If the movement of the lever` 8 is very material, the movement of the lever 22 will be also correspondingly; or a slight movement of the lever 8 will produce a corresponding pressure change and movement of the lever 22.

If the movement of the lever is slight the diaphragm will move slightly and close the valve I9 and if a further movement in the same direction is to be transmitted, the lever 8 is shoved further and a corresponding movement will be transmitted to the lever 22 and this may be repeated until the limits of the apparatus are reached; or the limits may be reached by a single movement of the lever 8 i desired.

If, now, it is desired to move the lever 22 in the opposite direction, the lever 8 is moved in the opposite direction downwardly so as to move the pipe 9 downwardly. This will force downwardly the member 6 and the stem II, allowing the port 24 to open and thus allowing the fluid pressure to flow through the ports 25, the chamber 26 and the port 24, into the chamber 4, which is maintained at a lower pressure than the .fluid pressure delivered to the transmitter. As soon as the pressure is thus reduced in the chamber 2, the diaphragm 5 will be forced downward by the spring I3, thus closing the port 24. This reduction in pressure in the chamber 2 allows the pressure to reduce in chamber I6 of the receiver, thus allowing the spring 29 to force upwardly the diaphragm I9, carrying with it the rod 2l and operating the lever 22 in the opposite direction.

Also, in this way, any movement of the lever 8 whether material or slight, is transmitted correspondingly to the lever 22, so' that the limits of the apparatus may be reached by a single movement of the lever 8 or by any number of slight movements.

Any. suitable pressure may be maintained in the chamber 4 by connecting the chamber, by means of the pipe 39, with any suitable apparatus, or the chamber may be open to the atmosphere. This pressure must be lower than the pressure applied to the transmitter through the tube I4, but the exact pressure is not material, as the pressure on the diaphragm 5 may be varied by varying the force acting thereon of the spring I3. This spring is backed by the disk 32 and the position of this disk is adjustable by means of the rod 3l which is threaded into the disk and extends out of the casing 3.

The rate of movement of the lever 22 with reference to that of the lever 8 may be varied by any suitable mechanical means; and the power received with reference to that delivered to the transmitter may be varied by varying the relative areas of the diaphragms, or, by suitable adjustments, by merely varying the relative force of the springs I3 and 20.

With this apparatus, in general, there will be definite pressure set up in the chamber 2 for given positions of the tube 9, and this will result in denite positions of the rod 2I. Also there will be a tendency for both valves to remain closed after the pressure in chamber 2 has arrived at the correct value for the given position of the pipe 9. Also, if the pressure in chamber 2, for any reason, is lower than the correct value, the diaphragm 5 will move towardsthe chamber 2 and will thus open the valve II';l if the pressure is too high, the diaphragm 5 will move in the opposite direction and will thus open the valve 23, allowing the pressure to reduce to the proper value.

There is no loss of fluid with the apparatus except the slight amount necessary to reduce the pressure in the chamber 2, and that only when the valve 23 is open as the pipe 9 moves outwardly. Also variations in pressure delivered to the transmitter through the pipe I4 have no effect on the operation of the apparatus, except, possibly, to change the time in which a certain change can take place; but they do not change the positions of the rod 2 I.

The transimotor may be applied to a number of diiferent uses; such as the operating means of feed water regulators, pump governors, dampers, gates, locomotive reversing gears, and so forth. The accompanying Figures 2 and 3 show its application to various devices. Also one transmitter may be used to operate several receivers, and the power and speed of movement of each receiver could be varied to suit the particular need, without reference to the details of the transmitter.

Fig. 2 illustrates the use of the transimotor in controlling the ow of water to a steam boiler. The boiler 31 receives water through the pipe 33, and the flow thereto is controlled by the feed water valve `39. Connected to the boiler by means of the pipes 40 and 4I is a thermostatic tube 43. As is well understood, in operation water will stand in the tube 43 at substantially the same height as in the boiler, the upper portion of the tube being lled with steam. As the water level in the tube varies in accordance with variations of water level in the boiler, the temperature of the tube, and thus its length, will vary. These variations Will operate accordingly the tube, and this in turn will operate the valves of the transmitter as hereinabove described to control the pressure of the fluid in the diaphragm chamber of the receiver 2 and hence the position of the diaphragm and of the rod 2l attached to the diaphragm. This rod is suitably connected with the plunger 44 of the feed water valve 39.

In operation any movement of the thermostatic tube, owing to its contraction or expansion, Will move upwardly or downwardly the head 45, as the other end 46 of the tube isv rigidly held in place with reference to the transmitter A by the rod 4l. Hence this movement of the head 45, and the pipe 9, which is fixed with reference to the head, will correspondingly operate the plunger 44 of the valve. If the water in the boiler sinks too low, the thermostat will expand, forcing inwardly the pipe 9; thus increasing the pressure in the diaphragm and opening4 more the valve 39 the plunger of the valve being arranged to open more as it is forced inwardly.

The fluid pressure for operating the transmitter and the receiver may be supplied in any suitable manner; but inl this instance I prefer to supply by connecting the feed water pipe of the boiler, by means of a pipe 48 with the pipe 9 of the transmitter.

Fig. 3 illustrates the use of the transimotor for controlling the speed of a pump. The pump 50 is operated by the steam motor 5I. The pump delivers water wherever desired through a pipe 52. In this case we may assume the water is to be delivered to a steam boiler, and the motor is operated by steam coming from the boilerthrough a pipe 53. The steam owis controlledby a valve 54 in the steam line, and the opening of thisv valve is controlled by thetransimotor.

Associated with the transmitter A of thetransimotor is a diaphragm casing 55 having a chamber in which is mounted a diaphragm 56. One side of the chamber is connected by a pipe 51 with the steam main of the boiler and the other side is connected by a pipe 58 with the water pipe of the boiler. A spring 59 assists the steam pressure in forcing the diaphragm downward, and the spring force can be adjusted by means of the disk B which is threaded onto the pipe 9 of the transmitter. The pipe 9 is fixed to the diaphragm, and it may be in communication with either side of the diaphragm, and hence the steam pressure is transmitted through the pipe 9 to the transmitter.

In operation, if the water pressure in the pipe 52 rises above the normal pressure for which the apparatus is adjusted, the diaphragm 55 will be forced upward somewhat and the pipe 9 will be forced outwardly, thus reducing the pressure in the diaphragm chamber of the receiver B, and closing more the valve 54; the plunger of the valve being arranged to close as it moves outwardly.

With this arrangement the valve opening is determined by the difference in pressure between the steam and the water. Hence the water pressure will Vary with the steam pressure. If it is desired to provide uniform water pressure, independent of the steam pressure the valve 6I in the steam pipe can be closed and the valve B2 opened. In this Way the steam pressure is not eective, and as the upper side of the diaphragm chamber is open to the air, the position of the diaphragm will be determined by the force of the spring 59 and the water pressure, thus providing substantially constant water pressure.

I claim as my invention:

l. A boiler feed water regulator comprising a feed water valve for the boiler, a uid pressure motor operatively connected to the valve, means for transmitting uid under variable pressure to the motor comprising a casing having a uid chamber therein, a fluid inlet tube slidably mounted in one wall of the chamber, the opposite wall being resiliently yielding, a fluid outlet tube fixed in the yielding wall, the inner ends of the tubes being slidably telescoped, each tube providing a valve seat, a double ended valve element normally engaging each of said valve seats, the valve element in co-operation with the inlet tube providing a fiuid inlet valve and in co-operation with the outlet tube providing a uid outlet valve, means movably responsive to water level variations in the boiler operatively connected to the inlet tube whereby inward movei ment of the inlet tube in the wall will open the inlet valve and outward movement will open the outlet valve to vary the iiuid pressure in the chamber, and both the inlet and outlet valve being adapted to close responsive to variation in chamber fluid pressure caused by opening either of said valves whereby the iiuid pressure in the motor and resultant feed water valve movement will correspond to the position of the inlet tube.

2. A boiler feed water regulator comprising a feed water valve for the boiler, a fluid pressure motor operatively connected to the valve, means for transmitting fluid under variable pressure to the motor comprising a casing having a pipe in communication with the motor, a uid inlet tube slidably mounted in one wall of the chamber, the opposite chamber wall being resiliently yielding, a fluid outlet tube extending through and supported by the yielding wall, the inner ends of the tubes being slidably telescoped, each of said tubes having a valve seat, a common co-operating valve element slidably positioned at the inner ends of the tubes and adapted to normally engage both said valve seats, the valve element in association with the inlet tube providing a uid inlet valve and in association with the outlet tube providing a fluid outlet valve, inward movement of the inlet tube being adapted to open the inlet valve and outward movement thereof being adapted to open the outlet valve to vary the fluid pressure in the chamber, both the inlet and outlet valve being adapted to close responsive to variation in chamber uid pressure caused by opening either of said valves, and means movably responsive to water level variations in the boiler for positioning the inlet tube.

3. A boiler feed water regulator comprising a feed water valve for the boiler, a fluid pressure motor operatively connected to the valve, means for transmitting fluid under variable pressure to the motor comprising a casing having a pipe in communication with the motor, a fluid inlet tube slidably mounted in one wall of the chamber, the opposite chamber wall being resiliently yielding, a iiuid outlet tube extending through and supported by the yielding wall, the inner ends of the tubes being slidably telescoped, each of said tubes having a normally closed valve including a valve seat provided by each tube and a common co-operating valve element slidably positioned at the inner ends of the tubes, the inlet tube and valve element forming a fluid inlet valve for the chamber and the outlet tube and valve element forming a fluid outlet valve therefor, inward movement of the inlet tube being adapted to open the inlet valve and outward movement thereof being adapted to open the outlet valve to vary the fluid pressure in the chamber, the resulting varying pressure in the chamber in either case causing the open iuid valve for the chamber to close, means interconnecting the feed water line and inlet tube for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, and means movably responsive to water level variations in the boiler for positioning the inlet tube.

4. A boiler feed water regulator comprising a feed water valve for the boiler, a fluid pressure motor operatively connected to the valve, means for transmitting fluid under variable pressure to the motor comprising a casing having a uid chamber therein, a fluid inlet tube slidably mounted in one wall of the chamber, the opposite wall being resiliently yielding, a uid outlet tube fixed in the yielding wall, the inner ends of the tubes being slidably telescoped, each tube providing a. valve seat, a double ended valve element normally engaging each of said valve seats, the valve element in co-operation with the inlet tube providing a iiuid inlet valve and in co-operation with the outlet tube providing a fluid outlet valve, means movably responsive to water level variations in the boiler operatively connected to the inlet tube whereby inward movement of the inlet tube in the wall will open the inlet valve to increase the fluid pressure in the chamber and outward movement will open the outlet valve to decrease the uid pressure in the chamber, and each of said valves being adapted to independently close when the chamber fluid pressure corresponds to the position of the inlet tube.

VINCENT V. VEENSCHOIEN. 

